Special Mass for Pope Benedict in Pro Cathedral

28. Feb, 2013

Special Mass for Pope Benedict in Pro Cathedral

Dublin students tweet “Beannacht Dé Ort” to @pontifex

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, will celebrate a special Mass in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral this evening (Thursday 28th) in thanksgiving for the Ministry of Pope Benedict XVI.

The Mass at 5:45pm this evening in the Pro Cathedral will include the boys and gentlemen of the Palestrina Choir. The Choir was one of just a few who sang for Pope Benedict, when they participated in the special liturgy for the Feast of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica on 6th January last. Following that Mass in January Pope Benedict said a special thanks to the choir in his address to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.

In tribute to Pope Benedict XVI this evening the Palestrina Choir will sing a number of hymns including Tu Es Petrus (Palestrina) and Lift Mine Eyes by Mendelssohn.

Meanwhile, as Pope Benedict XVI departs Vatican city, for the final time as Pope, hundreds of Dublin secondary students will watch live from Helix in Dublin and send a special tweet to the Pope’s twitter account @pontifex — which will be suspended shortly after.

The students – all participants in the Emmanuel 2013 series of concerts will tweet the words “Beannacht Dé Ort” to the Popes Twitter account. While the twitter account will be suspended tonight – it will be available to the next Pope following his election.

Tonight’s concert will open with Sail the Soul, a hymn based on the prayer of St. Colmcille. The hymn will be sung in tribute to the Pope as he ends one stage of his journey of life and to wish him well as he enters into another.

The Emmanuel concert series is run by the Liturgical Resource centre of the Archdiocese of Dublin. Over 2,000 students have taken part in the live concerts over the past three nights with a full orchestra following days of workshops and rehearsals. ENDS